The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will force the release of official records related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration changed course after months of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have waited long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next heads to Donald Trump for his approval. The president indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Even though Trump has for an extended period dismissed the controversy over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the measure over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were watching from a House gallery, applauded after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who stated he worried the measure would disclose personal information of witnesses, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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